7 Step-plan To Convert Any Website To WordPress

Do you know that around 500 websites are built daily using WordPress? The content management system runs about 34% of the total websites in the world and is the most popular CMS by far. The open-source platform is flexible allowing you total control over every aspect of your interface. You can build any kind of website- from simple blogs to complex online stores, with the CMS. Its amazing user-friendly features and an abundance of pre-built themes and plugins encourage people to migrate from other platforms. Here we are discussing a stepwise plan to convert any website to WordPress. This simple guide will help people to plan their migration and ensure that the project is completed successfully.

1. Identify The Valuable Content Of Your Old Website

Start by conducting a thorough assessment of your existing website. Identify the elements that you want to retain and the items that need to be discarded. In case, you receive good traffic, then the content of your website is valuable. However, not every post will be attracting high readership. Find out the posts that are receiving good views and mark them for migration. People who are using formats like PSD will want to transfer some design elements to the new website. They must identify the components that need to be shifted to the new interface. Make a list of all the elements that you want to migrate from the old website. You must also create a list of all the URLs of your interface.

2. Subscribe To A Dependable WordPress Hosting Service

Before you start the process to convert website to WordPress theme, you need to sign up with dependable hosting service. You need to select an agency that provides specialized services for interfaces built with the CMS. There are many companies that offer hosting solutions that are aligned with the specific requirements of WordPress websites. These agencies provide access to features like automatic updates to the core installation as well as for themes and plugins. They also provide essential security features like backup creation, firewalls and malware scanning. Compare the prices and plans of different services before subscribing to one that fits your budget and requirements.

3. Install WordPress On Your System

It is now time for installing the core files of the CMS on your system. In case, you have purchased a hosting plan from a WordPress-centric service, then you can get access to a handy feature of doing the installation in a single click. You can also conduct the process by visiting the website of the open-source platform and downloading the files from there. Once the installation is complete, access your admin dashboard and get familiar with its functions. This is the central hub from where you can control your interface. You will find that a default theme has been supplied with the installation. You can use this template for your new website or replace it with another one. There are thousands of pre-built templates and you can find one easily that has been created specifically for your category.

4. Select A Conversion Method For Your Project

In this step of the plan to convert any website to WordPress, you will need to identify a suitable method for the purpose. WordPress is versatile in every aspect and you can find numerous methods to complete a single task. Depending on the format of your existing interface, you can choose from a range of options. For instance, if you have an HTML website then it can be converted into a WordPress theme through plugins. There are also third-party services where you need to upload the zip file of your website and it will be converted. In case, you are technically proficient, you can do the process manually. The best way will be to hire a professional agency to do the job.

5. Convert Your Website To WordPress

Use your chosen method to convert your interface to WordPress. Make sure you have taken a backup of the old website so that you can restore it if things go wrong during migration. Check that the key files that are required in every WordPress website like style.css, index.php, header.php, footer.php, sidebar.php, etc. contain the relevant items. If the transfer was done through a tool, then it will be even more necessary to check each section to ensure everything is in order.

6. Set Up Redirects And Permalinks

It is now time to point the traffic to your old pages to the new relevant locations. The list of URLs that you created in the first step will now be helpful. Permalinks is a WordPress feature that lets you create the best link structure for your website. Having well-structured URLs also helps in improving the SEO of your interface. You can set up the redirects manually or through plugins that have been specifically for the purpose.

7. Test Your Website Extensively

Do not launch your website immediately after the migration. Take some time to check all the pages are looking good and the functionalities are working. Make sure that the redirects are in order and you are not being sent to broken pages. Check the interface on different browsers and various devices to ensure that it is easily accessible to all types of users. Once you are satisfied, deploy your freshly-converted website in the live environment.

Conclusion

Website conversions can be complex depending on the nature of your existing platform and the volume and format of your content. It will be sensible to hire WordPress development services that specialize in migration to execute the project.

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